Cellular Phones and GPS Tracking

Aug

2

2005

The FCC is requiring 95% of cellular phones in use will have GPS services built in so they can be located if the phone dials 911. An early example of this technology at use came last week when Michael Dendy crashed his motorcycle. He was far enough off the road that nobody saw him. He was conscious but didn’t know where he was.

So he called 911 and rescue personnel were able to locate him by the GPS coordinates that were broadcast when he dialed 911. A police helicopter flew to the coordinates enabling paramedics to locate Dendy.

“They basically sat on top over him and guided us to him,” said Sgt. Kelli Starr-Leach, spokeswoman for New Castle County Paramedics. “He was about 200 yards off the roadway, in marsh and brush. [The helicopter crew] were the only ones who could have located him.”

5 Responses

LOST PDA 700WX GPS ENABLED, HOW OR WHO BESIDES THE 911 SERVICES(NOT EMERGENCY) I AM DISABLED VET WITH SHORT TIME MEMORY LOSS. CAN GET ME COORDINATES TO WHERE IT IS BEFORE BATTERY GIVES UP. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU.

ERNIE KIEHL - December 6th, 2007

Your only likely option would be to contact your carrier and see if they can help.

Tim - December 6th, 2007

is it possible to track a blackberry from the internet? if so, how? thanks

blake - June 12th, 2008

If it is GPS enabled, and the phone has been programmed to send the coordinates to a particular service, and you have an account with that service to lookup the information– yes. Otherwise, no you can’t just type in a phone number or something and see the location.

Tim - June 12th, 2008

can i track my samsung vibrant galaxy that i just lost a couple of minutes ago.